Monday, October 7, 2013

1993 TOPPS FINEST: #71 BRADY ANDERSON

THE BUNT WAS OFF IN '96.

BETTER HITTING THROUGH CHEMISTRY OR HARD WORK?

DEFINING THE PLAYER

It's certainly among mankind's greatest mysteries, up there with the Bermuda Triangle, the Turin Shroud and Steve Buscemi's teeth:Brady Anderson hitting 50 homers in 1996. The 32-year-old leadoff man never had hit more than 21. He averaged 16 homers from '92-'95 and 20 from '97-'00. PEDs? Never linked. Tried 'em for one year and quit? Maybe, but why, considering he was entering the final year of his contract in '97? A weird outlier season, like Hack Wilson's 56/191 '30 season and Davey Johnson's 43-homer '73 season? Perhaps. What's known for certain: Anderson was an extraordinarily athletic outfielder, offensive catalyst and three-time All-Star during a 15-year career.

DEFINING MOMENT

Entering the final game of the '96 season on Sept. 29 with 49 homers, Anderson led off with No. 50 against the Blue Jays' Pat Hentgen. He became the 14th player to reach that plateau and second that season after #92 Mark McGwire. Anderson broke Frank Robinson's team record. Chris Davis topped both this season with 53.

DEFINING SEASON

In '96, in addition to all those homers, Anderson was hit by a pitch a league-leading 22 times, drove in 110 runs, scored 117 times and hit .297 with a .396 on-base percentage. Along with his steady defense in center, it added up to a 6.9 WAR. He's the only player to hit 50 homers and steal 20-plus bases in the same season.

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1993 Topps Finest

It's certainly among mankind's greatest mysteries, up there with the Bermuda Triangle, the Turin Shroud and Steve Buscemi's teeth: Brady Anderson hitting 50 homers in 1996. The leadoff man never had hit more than 21.

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